used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had worked in a canteen, where the preoccupation of everyone had been the procuring and dispensing of primitive things--food, and drink, and warmth.
activelyadverbUS /ˈæktɪvli/
in an active manner
From this reading The manual work, the close contact with material things, had satisfied some craving within herself of which she had not before been actively conscious.
anew
From this reading Women had worked with their hands for men who had been fighting, and were going to fight again.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had worked in a canteen, where the preoccupation of everyone had been the procuring and dispensing of primitive things--food, and drink, and warmth.
astonishingadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃɪŋ/
surprising greatly
From this reading She had learnt to cook and had become proficient with astonishing ease.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading She had learnt to cook and had become proficient with astonishing ease.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had worked in a canteen, where the preoccupation of everyone had been the procuring and dispensing of primitive things--food, and drink, and warmth.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The manual work, the close contact with material things, had satisfied some craving within herself of which she had not before been actively conscious.
canteennounUS /kænˈtiːn/
a flask for carrying water; used by soldiers or travelers
From this reading She had worked in a canteen, where the preoccupation of everyone had been the procuring and dispensing of primitive things--food, and drink, and warmth.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The manual work, the close contact with material things, had satisfied some craving within herself of which she had not before been actively conscious.
intentionally conceived
From this reading The manual work, the close contact with material things, had satisfied some craving within herself of which she had not before been actively conscious.
contactnounUS /ˈkɑːntækt/
close interaction
From this reading The manual work, the close contact with material things, had satisfied some craving within herself of which she had not before been actively conscious.
prepare a hot meal
From this reading She had learnt to cook and had become proficient with astonishing ease.
cravingnounUS /ˈkreɪvɪŋ/
an intense desire for some particular thing
From this reading The manual work, the close contact with material things, had satisfied some craving within herself of which she had not before been actively conscious.
dispensingverbUS /dɪˈspensɪŋ/
-ing form of “dispense” — administer or bestow, as in small portions
From this reading She had worked in a canteen, where the preoccupation of everyone had been the procuring and dispensing of primitive things--food, and drink, and warmth.
take in liquids
From this reading She had worked in a canteen, where the preoccupation of everyone had been the procuring and dispensing of primitive things--food, and drink, and warmth.
move gently or carefully
From this reading She had learnt to cook and had become proficient with astonishing ease.
efficientadjectiveUS /ɪˈfɪʃənt/
being effective without wasting time or effort or expense
From this reading Valeria had been the quickest worker there, one of the most efficient.
every person
From this reading She had worked in a canteen, where the preoccupation of everyone had been the procuring and dispensing of primitive things--food, and drink, and warmth.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading Women had worked with their hands for men who had been fighting, and were going to fight again.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading Women had worked with their hands for men who had been fighting, and were going to fight again.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading She had worked in a canteen, where the preoccupation of everyone had been the procuring and dispensing of primitive things--food, and drink, and warmth.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Women had worked with their hands for men who had been fighting, and were going to fight again.
the act of departing
From this reading Women had worked with their hands for men who had been fighting, and were going to fight again.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had worked in a canteen, where the preoccupation of everyone had been the procuring and dispensing of primitive things--food, and drink, and warmth.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Women had worked with their hands for men who had been fighting, and were going to fight again.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading The manual work, the close contact with material things, had satisfied some craving within herself of which she had not before been actively conscious.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had worked in a canteen, where the preoccupation of everyone had been the procuring and dispensing of primitive things--food, and drink, and warmth.
learntverbUS /lɜːrnt/
inflected form of “learn” — gain knowledge or skills
From this reading She had learnt to cook and had become proficient with astonishing ease.
manualnounUS /ˈmænjuːəl/
a small handbook
From this reading The manual work, the close contact with material things, had satisfied some craving within herself of which she had not before been actively conscious.
concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests
From this reading The manual work, the close contact with material things, had satisfied some craving within herself of which she had not before been actively conscious.
the force of workers available
From this reading Women had worked with their hands for men who had been fighting, and were going to fight again.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Valeria had been the quickest worker there, one of the most efficient.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The manual work, the close contact with material things, had satisfied some craving within herself of which she had not before been actively conscious.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had worked in a canteen, where the preoccupation of everyone had been the procuring and dispensing of primitive things--food, and drink, and warmth.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Valeria had been the quickest worker there, one of the most efficient.
preoccupationnounUS /priˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/
an idea that preoccupies the mind and holds the attention
From this reading She had worked in a canteen, where the preoccupation of everyone had been the procuring and dispensing of primitive things--food, and drink, and warmth.
primitiveadjectiveUS /ˈprɪmətɪv/
belonging to an early stage of technical development; characterized by simplicity and (often) crudeness
From this reading She had worked in a canteen, where the preoccupation of everyone had been the procuring and dispensing of primitive things--food, and drink, and warmth.
procuringverbUS /proʊˈkjʊrɪŋ/
-ing form of “procure” — get by special effort
From this reading She had worked in a canteen, where the preoccupation of everyone had been the procuring and dispensing of primitive things--food, and drink, and warmth.
proficientadjectiveUS /prɑːˈfɪʃənt/
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
From this reading She had learnt to cook and had become proficient with astonishing ease.
quickestadverbUS /ˈkwɪkɪst/
most quickly
From this reading Valeria had been the quickest worker there, one of the most efficient.
filled with satisfaction
From this reading The manual work, the close contact with material things, had satisfied some craving within herself of which she had not before been actively conscious.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had worked in a canteen, where the preoccupation of everyone had been the procuring and dispensing of primitive things--food, and drink, and warmth.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The manual work, the close contact with material things, had satisfied some craving within herself of which she had not before been actively conscious.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She had worked in a canteen, where the preoccupation of everyone had been the procuring and dispensing of primitive things--food, and drink, and warmth.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Women had worked with their hands for men who had been fighting, and were going to fight again.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Valeria had been the quickest worker there, one of the most efficient.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading She had worked in a canteen, where the preoccupation of everyone had been the procuring and dispensing of primitive things--food, and drink, and warmth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Women had worked with their hands for men who had been fighting, and were going to fight again.
Valeria
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Valeria had been the quickest worker there, one of the most efficient.
warmthnounUS /wɔːrmθ/
the sensation caused by heat energy
From this reading She had worked in a canteen, where the preoccupation of everyone had been the procuring and dispensing of primitive things--food, and drink, and warmth.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Women had worked with their hands for men who had been fighting, and were going to fight again.
in or at the place that
From this reading She had worked in a canteen, where the preoccupation of everyone had been the procuring and dispensing of primitive things--food, and drink, and warmth.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The manual work, the close contact with material things, had satisfied some craving within herself of which she had not before been actively conscious.
which person or people
From this reading Women had worked with their hands for men who had been fighting, and were going to fight again.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Women had worked with their hands for men who had been fighting, and were going to fight again.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The manual work, the close contact with material things, had satisfied some craving within herself of which she had not before been actively conscious.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Women had worked with their hands for men who had been fighting, and were going to fight again.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The manual work, the close contact with material things, had satisfied some craving within herself of which she had not before been actively conscious.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading She had worked in a canteen, where the preoccupation of everyone had been the procuring and dispensing of primitive things--food, and drink, and warmth.
workernounUS /ˈwɜːrkər/
a person who works at a specific occupation
From this reading Valeria had been the quickest worker there, one of the most efficient.
